Binoculator



1934- G. L. MANDAVILLE 49,022

BINOGULATOR Filed Nov. 13, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb,27, 1934. e. L. MANDAVILLE 1,949,022

BINOCULATOR Filed Nov. 13, 1950 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Patented Feb.27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BINOCULATOR Gurney Lee Mandaville,Fort Pierce, Fla.

Application November 13, 1930 Serial No. 495,473

15 Claims. (Cl. 128-25) My invention is an instrmnent which is de signedfor the purpose of equalizing and normalizing the action of the motormuscles of the human eye.

Primarily the invention has for its object to provide a simple,practical and inexpensive apparatus for the purpose stated in which theobject is effectually accomplished by the use of prisms in revolvingcylinders, both of which rotate in the same direction, with the bases ofthe prisms placed at the same angle from the center, i. e., base down orbase up, together with prisms in addition placed at the front of thecylinders to aid or overcome the defective action of the motor musclesof the eyes.

Further it is an object to provide an apparatus in which the prisms andtheir cylinders are caused to rotate in their sockets by gears and apower transmission drive from a motor, there being included means whichpermits or renders it as desired, or to revolve the same a certainnumber of times in one direction, and then automatically reverse thedirection of rotation and revolve them in the opposite direction.

Further it is an object to provide means whereby, when it is desirableto break up a relationship between convergence and accommodation, inorder to correct muscular interbalancaas stra bismus or squint, this canbe done by having a disk with a hole in the center placed between theinstrument and charts; the patients vision being directed through theinstrument converges to a point in the center of the disk whileaccommodating for a more distant point to the chart or charts, thecharts being arranged to give a stereoscopic effect of the character orpictures contained thereon.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed outhereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, my inventionconsists in the novel features of construction and combination,connection and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described,and then pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my instrument.

Figure 2 is a detail vertical section of the transmission and reversingmechanism.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the instrument head.

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal section 'the base and has a drivepulley 4 around which through the head support on the end of thehorizontal arm.

Figure 5 is an enlarged face view of the gear case and head support.

Figure 6 is an enlarged rear elevation of the Q gear case showing mannerof mounting the prisms.

Figure 7 is a central vertical longitudinal sec,- tion, some parts beingshown in elevation, of my machine.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the worm drive at thefar end of the horizontal arm.

Figure 9 is an enlarged horizontal section on the line 99 of Figure 7. 7

Figure 10 is an enlarged horizontal section on F the line 10-10 ofFigure 7.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view of my machine in use.

In the drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate like partsin all of the figures, 1 represents the base which is preferably ofcircular form and is supported on legs 2, (preferably four in number). Amotor 3 is mounted under the driving belt passes.

The base 1 is provided with a threaded recess 6 into which the gear casethreaded mounting stud 9 is adapted to be screwed for supporting thegear case '7 and its carried parts on the base. The gear case 7 has aremovable cover 8 by which access to the interior of the gear case maybe had. It is also provided with horizontal bearings and 11 and avertical bearing 12 for the vertical transmission shaft 21.

Mounted in a suitable bearing 10 and in the bearing sleeve 16 is atransmission gear shaft 13, to one end of which is pinned, or otherwisesecured, a pulley 15.

Secured to the shaft 13 within the gear case '7 is a bevel gear 14 andsecured to the sleeve 16 is another bevel gear 1'7, the two gears 14 and1'7 meshing with the bevel gear 24 on the vertical transmission shaft21, as shown.

18 is another drive pulley mounted on the sleeve 16 to turn with it, thedrive pulleys and 18 being separated by a loose central disk 19 whichturns freely on the shaft 13 and has a bevelled or V-shaped periphery 20to cooperate with the flanges of the pulleys 15 and 18, respectively,the driving belt 5 taking around these pulleys 15 and 18 and beingadapted for shifting over the disk 19 from one pulley to the other,either by manual action or automatically (the automatic action beingexplained later).

- .art.

22 designates a vertical telescopical sectional support which fits overthe bearing 12 and sustains the upper bearing 23 in which the uppersection of the telescoping shaft 21 is mounted.

The tubular telescopic support 22 is held in its proper extension bymeans of a suitable clamping device 40.

25 is a bevel gear secured on the uppermost section of the shaft 21 andit has an elbow or support constituting a gear housing 26, this housinghaving a removable cap or cover 2'7 as shown. A horizontal tubing 28extends from the housing 26 and has a bearing 29 adjacent the housingfor the horizontal shaft 32 with bevel gear 33 to mesh with the bevelgear 25 hereinbefore referred to, the other end of the shaft 32 beingmounted in a bearing in the shank 31 of the adjustable gear case 30, andat its end within the chamber 35 of the gear case the shaft 32 carries aworm gear 34 for a purpose presently explained.

, The gear case 30 has a removable cover 36 and it has a head bearing 37for the reception of the shank 39 of the head 41.

The gear case 30 also carries an upwardly projecting lug 38 providedwith an eye for the reception of the rod which carries an apertured diskhereinafter again referred to.

The instrument head 4.1 is composed of a back plate 42 to which theshank 39 is secured, an upper gear case cover 43 and a lower gear caseand bearing member 44, the latter having bearing portions 45 for thecylinders 47. The covers 4-344 are secured to the back plate 42 byscrews 46, or in any other suitable way.

The cylinders 47 have gear teeth 48 which mesh with the intermediategear 53 that is mounted on the stud '79 projecting from the back plate42. The intermedate gear 53 meshes with a pinion 54 on the prismrotating shaft 52 that is journalled in the bearing bore 51 of the shank39.

The prisms 49 are held in the cylinders 47 by engaging shoulders 50.

55 is a back prism clamping post which carries the clamp 56 and spring57 that holds the added prisms 58 in place against the back plate 42.The back plate 42 has openings 80 registering with the interior openingof the cylinders 4'7.

59 are color glasses that may be placed over the prisms 58 for a purposepresently explained.

60 is a worm gear on the shaft 52 which meshes with the worm 34 on theshaft 32, when the shank 39 is in place in the head bearing 37 and issecured by the set screw 61. The back plate carries a series of pins 62on which the added prisms 58 rest while being held in place by the clamp56, the clamp 56 being held against swivelling by means of pins 81projecting from the back plate 42.

63 is the apertu'red disk which is adjustably mounted on the rod 64 thatis secured on the eye 38 and 65 designates the charts, see Figure 11. Byreference to Figure 11, the action of the instrument will be clear tothose skilled in the In that figure, 66 represents the mental image seenwhen viewing the chart 65 through the apertured disk or target 63.

The mechanism for efiecting periodical reversals of the rotation of theprisms is best shown in Figure 2 by reference to which it will be seenthat 6'7 is a worm secured on the shaft 13 and meshing with a worm gear68 on a shaft 69 journalled in a bracket 70 that is mounted on the gearcase '7. 71 is a crank disk whose crank pin '72 is connected through aconnecting rod '73 with the reciprocating belt shifter 77 whose fln gers78 lie at either side of the belt 5. The reciprocating belt shifter '77is mounted in a bearing 76 in a hanger '74 that is in turn mounted onthe bearing projection 11 of the gear case '7 and held in place by a setscrew 75. Thus, when the shaft 13 has made a certain number ofrevolutions the belt 5 is shifted from one pulley 15 to the other 18,and vice versa, over the bevelled periphery 20 of the freely rotatingdisk 19.

The disk or target 63 has a bearing at the top which fits over themounting rod 64 and is held in position by a set screw, thus allowingthe disk to be moved toward and from the instrument head to change theconverging positions and also permitting the disk to swivel in orderthat it may be properly lined up with the instrument head. The surfaceof the disk may be plain or decorated, as desired.

In using the apparatus, the .patients vision is directed through theinstrument head, and then through'the hole in the center of the disk tothe charts 65 which will give a stereoscopic effect forming a mentalimage 66 of the two charts.

It is found that in the treating of childrens eyes it is very helpful touse the two-color system,the green and yellow lenses, or other colcrs.The chart can be painted in the two colors, or it can be used as ascreen and pictures projected in two colors on it. In using thetwo-color system I place a red lens over one eye and a green lens overthe other eye, which fit in behind the prisms and are held by the sameclamp that holds the prisms in place. Then with the color chart orpicture in front of them as their vision is directed'through theinstrument the red on the chart or picture can be seen only with the eyehaving the red lens over it, and the green part of the picture or chartcan be seen only through the green lens, thereby necessitating thevision 1 5 of both eyes to see the full picture, which causes thepatient to focus both eyes on the picture and while the eyes are beingfocused they are rotated and with the action of the prisms the musclesare being exercised in a manner that will increase the action andstimulate the muscles as desired.

It has also been found that certain colored motion pictures give therequired desire for the use of both eyes through the filter lens and, nodoubt, in time it will be one of the methods used in treating weak-eyedchildren. In using my instrument to view motion pictures the disk ortarget 63 is not employed.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it is thought the complete construction,operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood bythose skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. In instruments of the character stated, a support, an instrument headcarried thereby, a motor on the support, said head including a pair ofrotating cylinders carrying prisms, and power transmitting mechanismbetween said mo- 140 tor and each of said cylinders for freely rotatingthe cylinders in the same direction.

2. In instruments of the character stated, a support, an instrument headcarried thereby, a motor on the support, said head including a pair 145of rotating cylinders carrying prisms, power transmitting mechanismbetween said motor and each of said cylinders for freely rotating thecylinders in the same direction, and automatic 150 reversing gearcooperating with said power transmitting mechanism for the purposesdescribed.

3. In instruments of the character stated, a support, an instrument headcarried thereby, a motor on the support, said head including a pair ofrotating cylinders carrying prisms, power transmitting mechanism betweensaid motor and each of said cylinders for freely rotating the cylindersin the same direction, a prism securing means carried by said head andadded prisms held to said head bysaid prism securing means.

4. In instruments of the character stated, a support, an instrument headcarried thereby, a motor on the support, said head including a pair ofrotating cylinders carrying prisms, power transmitting mechanism betweensaid motor and each of said cylinders for freely rotating the cylindersin the same direction, automatic reversing gear cooperating with saidpower transmitting mechanism, a prism securing means carried by saidhead and added prisms held to said head by said prism securing means.

5. In instruments of the character stated, a support, an instrument headcarried thereby, a motor on the support, said head including a pair ofrotating cylinders carrying prisms, power transmitting mechanism betweensaid motor and each of said cylinders for freely rotating the cylindersin the same direction, a prism securing means carried by said head andadded prisms held to said head by said prism securing means, and colorglasses held with said added prisms to said head.

6. In instruments of the character stated, a support, an instrument headcarried thereby, a motor on the support, said head including a pair ofrotating cylinders carrying prisms, power transmitting mechanism betweensaid motor and each of said cylinders for freely rotating the cylindersin the same direction, automatic reversing gear cooperating with saidpower transmitting mechanism, a prism securing means carried by saidhead and added prisms held to said head by said prism securing means,and color glasses held with said added prisms to said head.

'7. In instruments of the character stated, a base, a motor mounted onthe base, a telescoping vertical columnar support and a transmissioncase mounted on said base, a horizontal support carried by said verticalsupport, power trans- .mitting mechanism carried by said supports andconnected with said motor, an instrument head on said horizontalsupport, a pair of rotatable cylinders carried by said head, prismsmounted in said cylinders, and cylinder rotating means in said head andcoupled with said power transmitting mechanism for efiecting rotation ofsaid prisms.

8. In instruments of the character stated, a base, a motor mounted onthe base, a telescoping vertical columnar support and a transmissioncase mounted on said base, a horizontal support carried by said verticalsupport, power transmitting mechanism carried by said supports andconnected with said motor, an instrument head on said horizontalsupport, a pair of rotatable c'ylinders carried by said head, prismsmounted in said cylinders and cylinder rotating means in said head andcoupled with said power transmitting mechanism for effecting rotation ofsaid prisms, and added prisms and means to hold the same in place onsaid head in cooperation with said cylinders.

9. In instruments of the character stated, a base, a motor mounted onthe base, a telescoping vertical columnar support and a transmissioncase mounted on said base, a horizontal support carried by said verticalsupport, power transmitting mechanism carried by said supports andconnected with said motor, an instrument head on said horizontalsupport, a pair of rotatable cylinders carried by said head, prismsmounted in said cylinders, cylinder rotating means in said head andcoupled with said power transmitting mechanism for effecting rotation ofsaid prisms, and a target disk with an aperture adjustably mounted onsaid support in cooperation with said head.

10. In instruments of the'charaoter stated, a base, a motor mounted onthe base, a telescoping vertical columnar support and a transmissioncase mounted on said base, a horizontal support carried by said verticalsupport, power transmitting mechanism carried by said supports andconnected with said motor, an instrument head on said horizontalsupport, a pair of rotatable cylinders carried by said head, prismsmounted in said cylinders, cylinder rotating means in said head andcoupled with said power transmitting mechanism for effecting rotation ofsaid prisms, and means to reverse the direction of rotation of saidcylinders at predetermined intervals.

11. In instruments of the character stated, a base, a motor mounted onthe base, a telescoping vertical columnar support and a transmissioncase mounted on said base, a horizontal support carried by said verticalsupport, power transmitting mechanism carried by said supports andconnected with said motor, an instrument head on said horizontalsupport, a pair of rotatable cylinders carried by said head, prismsmounted in said cylinders, cylinder rotating means in said head andcoupled with power transmitting mechanism for effecting rotation of saidprisms, added prisms and means to hold the same in place on said head incooperation with said cylinders, and means to reverse the direction ofrotation of said cylinders at predetermined intervals.

12. In instruments of the character stated, a base, a motor mounted onthe base, a telescoping vertical columnar support and a transmissioncase mounted on said base, a horizontal support carried by said verticalsupport, power transmit ting mechanism carried by said supports andconnected with said motor, an instrument head on said horizontalsupport, a pair of rotatable cylinders carried by said head, prismsmounted in said cylinders, cylinder rotating means in said head andcoupled with said power transmitting mechanism for eirecting rotation ofsaid prisms, a target disk with an aperture adjustably mounted on saidsupport in cooperation with said head, and means to reverse thedirection of rotation of said cylinders at predetermined intervals.

13. In instruments of the character stated, a base, a motor mounted onthe base, a telescoping vertical columnar support and a transmissioncase mounted on said base, a horizontal support carried by said verticalsupport, power transmitting mechanism carried by said supports andconnected with said motor, an instrument head on said horizontalsupport, a pair of rotatable cylinders carried by said head, prismsmounted in said cylinders, cylinder rotating means in said head andcoupled with said power transmitting mechanism for efiecting rotation ofsaid prisms, means to reverse the direction of rotation of saidcylinders at predetermined intervals, said reversing mechanismcomprising a reversing gear, a pair of associated pulleys with anintermediate loose disk, a driving belt from said motor taking over saidpulleys and a periodic belt shifter for shifting said belt from onepulley to the other.

- 14. In instruments of the character stated, a support, an instrumenthead carried thereby, a motor on the support, said head including a pairof rotating cylinders carrying prisms, each of said cylinders includinga ring gear, a common pinion meshing with each of said ring gears, and apower transmitting gear train from said motor to said common pinion forrotatingsaid cylinders in the same direction.

15. In instruments of the character stated, a

GURNEY LEE MANDAVILLE.

